re: The importance of losingPosted by htran90 on 2/2/13 at 12:38 am to Jester

quote:You left off 1st Round 1st Pick - Tim Duncan. We have our 1st overall now. The rest of what they had are low picks. They definitely weren't tanking at all after they got Duncan.

I left off duncan because I figure the point was made stronger by saying after duncan, they played well, but it's not like they had to sign marquee FA to stay afloat.

They improved as a group, they had their "big 3" settled by the time robinson retired after 02-03. and they consistently added good role players year in and year out and contended for the past decade. I do believe duncan is their only lottery pick on the team today and the next highest draft was leonard @15(?) who they traded for.

we don't need to tank to get better drafts to win, we need to DEVELOP. yes good draft picks make it easier, but it was done with low drafts and even undrafted on san antonio's team, good enough for best record in the nba.

re: The importance of losingPosted by VOR on 2/2/13 at 10:07 am to corndeaux

quote:everyone should read this article on team building.

LINK

Good article.

And I agree with those posters who focus on the need to develop. It's important to strive for success this year and let the five or six guys that we know are here for awhile mature and learn to win together, imo.

Look, if the wheels come off and the record is sit, then, sure, a high draft pick is nice to have as consolation. But it no longer should be the primary goal of this team. We pretty much hit our home run last year.

San Antonio added two elite players (certainly elite in how the contribute to their team) by drafting wisely with relatively shitty draft slots. And they have been exceptional in bringing in just the right kind of free agent talent to the franchise.

quote: ou can call all the Tank supporters fair-weather, horrible fans all you want, but I am for what's best for the franchise long term.

Convincing FAs that we have the talent to compete with a little development + a few key signings >>>> drafting 5th instead of, say, 10th.

This. I don't think Tank supporters are fair weather fans, I think they're just being stupid. I was pro tank last year, but last year not only was there a franchise player in the draft, there wasn't a single guy on the team you could say with certainty was a long term piece. The rebuild is at a different point this season and there are probably more helpful pieces in FA than the middle of the lottery.

quote:This. I don't think Tank supporters are fair weather fans, I think they're just being stupid. I was pro tank last year, but last year not only was there a franchise player in the draft, there wasn't a single guy on the team you could say with certainty was a long term piece. The rebuild is at a different point this season and there are probably more helpful pieces in FA than the middle of the lottery.

I was obviously opposed to "tanking" last year, but I agree with the gist of what you're saying. I took most of the losses last year in stride because of the draft (even though I think luck and/or Stern had more to do with getting The Brow). Like you said, the draft just isn't that good this year. You may very well end up wasting cap space on a lottery pick.

For the sake of forward momentum, I want to see wins. I want to see our guys learn how to close out games. I want to see Davis learn to play with foul trouble. I want to see Gordon, Vasquez, and Anderson start to consistently show killer instinct. I want Rivers to continue improving his drive and kick game (his shot needs a LOT of offseason work). I want to see the guys having fun playing together. I want them building chemistry for the future. I do not want to see losses.

All that said, I still fully expect to end up in the 6-10 range if we hold onto the pick.

re: The importance of losingPosted by VOR on 2/5/13 at 8:43 am to Jester

quote:For the sake of forward momentum, I want to see wins. I want to see our guys learn how to close out games. I want to see Davis learn to play with foul trouble. I want to see Gordon, Vasquez, and Anderson start to consistently show killer instinct. I want Rivers to continue improving his drive and kick game (his shot needs a LOT of offseason work). I want to see the guys having fun playing together. I want them building chemistry for the future. I do not want to see losses.

All that said, I still fully expect to end up in the 6-10 range if we hold onto the pick.